djheroinchic Reviews

The Smokers (2000)

An Indecisive Movie

[2/10 · 9 April 2006]

The biggest problem for this film was that it didn't know what it wanted to be. It started off as an absurd comedy but tried to turn into a powerful depressing drama by the end. Without a cleverly written script, it is set up for failure.

The acting is mostly poor. Dominique Swain does a respectable job. Which makes it more of a tragedy that she was actually in a film this bad. Busy Phillips is the other actress who can impress in a few scenes. Everyone else was forgettable to say the least. Except for Thora Birch, whose motive for starring here I can't begin to understand.

The directing was OK, it wasn't as bad as the script or the actors. The montage scenes were well done. They almost tricked you into forgetting that they were from a bad film. In the end its still an overproduced waste of film.

Tart (2001)

Good but a little empty

[6/10 · 9 April 2006]

While the film was an enjoyable experience, it didn't have the impact of a hard hitting drama. It felt like there wasn't a whole lot of substance. Another weak point of the film was "the woods" scene. It wasn't overly convincing.

The acting was good, but not as good as it should have been based on the cast. Bijou Phillips was a stand out, we see a little bit of her Bully character here. Dominique Swain did well, but no one else really stood out. Mischa Barton was disappointing, she was far better in Lost & Delirious.

The direction wasn't fantastic, but it fit the tone of the film. It's a good rental if you're in the mood for a drama, but it's a bit lacking for a buy.

Body Shots (1999)

Gets off to a great start

[4/10 · 8 April 2006]

Before falling off into oblivion. The first forty five minutes were good. It starts off in an interesting way and it's easy to become immersed in what is going on. Unfortunately the second half is poorly written. The driving force is killed off, and what follows only leads into the least anti-climatic ending ever seen. What's worse about the ending is that it fails to resolve any of the film's events. Which almost makes the entire movie a waste of a film.

The directing is great, way better than this film deserves. The acting was good. I liked Jerry O'Connell's performance. Tara Reid was surprisingly convincing in displaying her emotions. Amanda Peet could have done better. Ron Livingston was great, and is shown in a somewhat different light.

The film has a lot of wasted potential. I'm surprised that the last half of the script wasn't completely rewritten. It is as if the writer only planned out the first half before starting to write it. If it's a dollar rental, it may be worth it. Just to be safe, I'd only recommend it if it ends up on a subscription movie channel.

Secretary (2002)

A lovely dark film

[7/10 · 7 April 2006]

A film that is difficult to classify. I wouldn't exactly call it a comedy, it would only be comedic to those who weren't familiar with dominant and submissive relationships. It certainly had its share of dramatic moments, but it wasn't exactly drama as a whole. It's just a film with a dark atmosphere that provides dark moments.

I can only fault the film in two areas. I felt that its pacing was too slow at times. Mostly during the first half of the film. The only other element I did not like involved the news reporters and the hunger strike. However, these flaws are minor compared to the quality of the film.

The acting is its biggest strength. I have only seen Maggie Gyllenhaal in Donnie Darko previously. I thought she played her character well and is pretty brave for accepting such a role. James Spader was the perfect fit, no one can do cold and creepy like he can. As great as he is, I didn't find him to overshadow Maggie at any time. They were the perfect match. The rest of the cast wasn't really noticeable since the film revolves around Mr. Gray and Lee.

The directing was well above average, but certainly not mind blowing. It was well done and fit the film, but you aren't going to find anything you haven't seen before here. It's a great rental choice, but I'm not exactly sure if it would be one to buy. As much as I liked it, I can't imagine it being a film one would want to watch over and over again.

Heathers (1988)

75% Perfect

[7/10 · 7 April 2006]

As the film started, I wasn't entirely sure if it was one I was going to like. Fifteen minutes into it, I seriously wanted to turn it off. In retrospect, I'm very happy to have given it a chance. The first quarter of the film seems to be a bit uninspired. Its the same characters and plot points as almost any teen movie ever made.

But once it makes its transition into a darker movie, I could not stop from watching. It has great atmosphere that adds to the creepiness factor.

The acting is good, with a few actors/actresses standing out. Winona Ryder is becoming one of my favorite 80's girls, and this movie is a big reason why. She brings a solid all around performance. Shannen Doherty does well playing a bitch, and this is probably when she got type-casted as one. I have not been really impressed with any Christian Slater movie, except for maybe True Romance, but this is the greatest performance of his career. He hit every cue with his character's transformation.

This film will make a great rental, and if you enjoy it, it would be fitting for any fan's movie collection.

Grind (2003)

Skateboarding for the MTV generation

[3/10 · 6 April 2006]

Prior to watching it, I was never expecting a great film, I knew it would be more along the lines of a teen comedy. However, I was expecting it to at least be a fun ride. Unfortunately, what would have been an average movie at best, turns out to be sub par. The key for a movie like grind to succeed is to not take itself seriously and provide laughs. Most of the jokes in the film provide a grin at best and maybe a few provide one or two out loud laughs during the entire film.

My biggest complaint lies in its editing. The film at an hour and forty three minutes simply drags on. I would have liked it enough to maybe issue a five if it had been cut by about twenty minutes. The acting was not great, maybe not even good, but it was passable for the kind of film it was.

The cast was alright, but a few were not suited for the roles they played. Jennifer Morrison, whom I enjoy in house, just did not convince me as a female skater. Adam Brody's part was well casted, but it seems like it was just a rehash of Seth on the OC. Randy Quaid's cameo was fairly unnecessary, the character could have been played by anyone, and I think no one would have noticed. On the other hand, Stephen Root's cameo was one of the brighter spots of the film. Chris McDonald played the same kind of role he usually does, only he didn't really seem to try this time.

The direction is hard to judge. I can't exactly blame the acting on the director because I don't know if it was the actors inexperience, or the script that was at fault. The shots were somewhat uninspiring, in the sense that they could be found in any MTV style movie. There wasn't one quality that set this one apart from the rest of the pack. For the writing to have been good, it would have needed to not rely on stereotypes and clichés found in every movie geared toward teens. I'd have a hard time even recommending this one for a rental.